Inside Tech Careers

In the final episode of this first series, Harry interviews Katherine Mathieson, the Director of The Royal Institution - an independent charity dedicated to connecting people to the world of science.Katherine shares how she discovered her passion for science communication; she offers her advice for those interested in careers in science communication careers, and emphasises the importance of scientific literacy in today's world.They also explore how the 225-year-old Royal Institution maintains its historic mission of making science accessible to everyone, while adapting to reach a larger audience than ever before through social media platforms.Katherine on LinkedInKatherine on TwitterThe Royal Institution websiteThe Royal Institution on YouTubeThe Royal Institution on TikTokConnect with HarryHarry on LinkedInHarry on TwitterVisit Mission EncodeableMission Encodeable on LinkedInMission Encodeable on Twitterhttps://missionencodeable.com© Mission Encodeable 2025

Harry speaks to Nick Nurock, a former Software Engineer at Transport for London (TfL) who now runs Standup Computing, delivering AI literacy workshops to school students.Starting his career as an electronics engineer, Nick transitioned into software development and played a key role in TfL's contactless payment system implementation. While at TfL, he also formalised and expanded their software development graduate and apprenticeship schemes.Nick now focuses on educating young people about artificial intelligence through his startup, Stand Up Computing. Having already taught over 2,500 pupils, he aims to demystify AI and encourage critical thinking about its benefits and risks. He shares valuable insights about getting started in software development, and advises new developers not to get discouraged when their code doesn't work the first time, as problem-solving is a key part of the development process.Nick on LinkedInStandup ComputingConnect with HarryHarry on LinkedInHarry on TwitterVisit Mission EncodeableMission Encodeable on LinkedInMission Encodeable on Twitterhttps://missionencodeable.com© Mission Encodeable 2025

Harry speaks to Jess Sullivan, a Senior Software Engineer at Scan.com.Jess explains how she taught herself to code, discussing how she started with free resources and the importance of choosing the right language to learn.Jess discusses how AI tools have become part of her daily work. She offers valuable insights for aspiring developers, highlighting the importance of resilience, finding the right programming language to start with, and joining supportive communities. She also shares practical advice about improving typing skills and reassures listeners that a traditional computer science background isn't necessary to succeed in software development.Jess on LinkedInfreeCodeCampCodeNewbie PodcastWomen and Non Binary RubyAlgorithms Illuminated by Tim RoughgardenRefactoring: Ruby Edition by Jay Fields, Shane Harvie, Martin Fowler and Kent BeckCoderspeak: The Language of Computer Programmers by Guilherme Orlandini HeurichThe Manager's Path: A Guide for Tech Leaders Navigating Growth and Change by Camille FournierConnect with HarryHarry on LinkedInHarry on TwitterVisit Mission EncodeableMission Encodeable on LinkedInMission Encodeable on Twitterhttps://missionencodeable.com© Mission Encodeable 2025

Harry talks to Tom Read, formerly the Chief Executive Officer and Director General at the UK Government Digital Service, and now the Group Chief Digital & Technology Officer at Serco. Serco is a multinational company that works with governments to fulfil contracts across many sectors including defence, health, space, justice, migration, customer services, and transport.Tom discusses the range of contracts which Serco operates, highlighting some interesting and unique examples. Tom also shares his advice for those thinking about starting a journey in technological leadership.Tom on LinkedInTom on TwitterPivot PodcastNo Rules Rules: Netflix and the Culture of Reinvention by Reed Hastings and Erin MeyerMarty Cagan’s booksConnect with HarryHarry on LinkedInHarry on TwitterVisit Mission EncodeableMission Encodeable on LinkedInMission Encodeable on Twitterhttps://missionencodeable.com© Mission Encodeable 2025

Harry speaks to Mirnali Koneswaran, a Policy Officer at the Royal Academy Of Engineering who specialises in education and skills policy development. Previously, Mirnali contributed as a Research Assistant at the Raspberry Pi Foundation, focusing on data analysis and research initiatives.Mirnali breaks down what policy is and how it can have a tangible impact. Harry and Mirnali also discuss the Engineers 2030 project that Mirnali’s team is working on, which aims to challenge how we think about engineering today, and how the engineering workforce needs to be different.Mirnali on LinkedInEngineers 2030Watch UK Parliament debates and committeesTwo cheap ways to test your fit for policy work from Effective Altruism ForumRoyal Academy of Engineering websiteParliamentary Office of Science Technology (POST)80,000 HoursVisit UK ParliamentConnect with HarryHarry on LinkedInHarry on TwitterVisit Mission EncodeableMission Encodeable on LinkedInMission Encodeable on Twitterhttps://missionencodeable.com© Mission Encodeable 2025

Harry speaks to Matthew Browning, a seasoned tech professional with an impressive background that includes co-inventing BBC iPlayer and working on various projects at the BBC. Matthew now serves as a Principal Product Manager at YouGov, bringing his wealth of experience to the world of data analytics and market research.Matthew shares his advice for young professionals and discusses the changing landscape of technology careers, from the dot-com boom to today's globalised workforce.Matthew on LinkedInMatthew’s personal websiteBBC iPlayer patentHacker NewsO'Reilly MediaProgramming Perl by Larry Wall, Tom Christiansen and Jon OrwantFOSDEMConnect with HarryHarry on LinkedInHarry on TwitterVisit Mission EncodeableMission Encodeable on LinkedInMission Encodeable on Twitterhttps://missionencodeable.com© Mission Encodeable 2025

Harry speaks with Dave Leonard, the Strategic Director of IT at the Watergrove Trust, an expanding multi-academy trust of schools based in Rochdale, in the North West of England.They discuss the challenges and rewards of managing IT in an educational setting, and delve into the future of technology in schools, including the impact of AI on education and the growing importance of cybersecurity.Dave on LinkedInDave on TwitterDave’s Learning Dust PodcastEdufuturists PodcastOpen: How We'll Work, Live and Learn in the Future by David PriceAssociation of Network Managers in EducationGoogle Champions CommunityYes Man by Danny WallaceConnect with HarryHarry on LinkedInHarry on TwitterVisit Mission EncodeableMission Encodeable on LinkedInMission Encodeable on Twitterhttps://missionencodeable.com© Mission Encodeable 2025

Harry talks to Chris Cox, the Chief Technology Officer at Quality Compliance Systems. Chris talks through his journey from being a young programming enthusiast to the CTO of a company serving over 140,000 users. Chris also shares his perspective on the role of a CTO, balancing technical expertise with soft skills like strategic thinking and people management.Chris on LinkedInComputerphile’s YouTube ChannelSoftware Engineering Radio PodcastO'Reilly SubscriptionPluralsightConnect with HarryHarry on LinkedInHarry on TwitterVisit Mission EncodeableMission Encodeable on LinkedInMission Encodeable on Twitterhttps://missionencodeable.com© Mission Encodeable 2025

Harry speaks to Sammy White, a former Learning Evangelist and now the Learning Lead at Glean, a company which aims to revolutionise note-taking for students in higher education. They explore the challenges and rewards of working in EdTech, and Sammy explains how her background in education informs her work in product marketing.Sammy on LinkedInGlean websiteMicrosoft Speaker CoachCommon Sense EducationGoogle Applied Digital SkillsGlassdoorConnect with HarryHarry on LinkedInHarry on TwitterVisit Mission EncodeableMission Encodeable on LinkedInMission Encodeable on Twitterhttps://missionencodeable.com© Mission Encodeable 2025